Mask

Abstract

The mask of the present invention comprises: a mask body; and sheet-like ear loops, which are joined at each transverse edge of the mask body in a longitudinally extending joining processing region, the joining processing region having a plurality of modified portions spaced apart by melting and modified, wherein the area ratio of the modified portions in the central joining processing region located at the center of the longitudinal direction in the joining processing region is smaller than the area ratio of the modified portions in the end joining processing regions located at the ends of the longitudinal direction in the joining processing region.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to face masks. Background Technology

[0002] A typical structure of a face mask includes: a mask body that at least partially covers the wearer's face, and a pair of ear loops attached to the mask body. Furthermore, ear loops that are not ribbon-like but sheet-like are also known. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a mask in which both the mask body and the ear loops are made of sheet-like nonwoven fabric, and the ear loops are welded to the end regions of the mask body in the low elongation direction (lateral direction).

[0003] Prior art literature Patent documents Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2012-217651 Summary of the Invention <Problem to be solved by this invention> Depending on the material structure of the mask body and / or ear loops, sufficient bonding strength may not be achieved between the mask body and ear loops. Therefore, to improve bonding strength, the area of ​​the welded portion used for joining the mask body and ear loops can be increased. However, if the welded portion is large, the treated area will become hard, thus reducing the mask's softness and potentially impairing its feel against the skin.

[0004] Therefore, one aspect of the present invention provides a mask in which the mask body and the ear loops are joined with sufficient bonding strength and have a good feel against the skin.

[0005] <Methods for solving problems> One aspect of the present invention is a mask comprising: a mask body; and sheet-like ear loops joined at each transverse edge of the mask body in a longitudinally extending joining processing region, the joining processing region having a plurality of mutually spaced-apart modified portions modified by melting, wherein the area ratio of the modified portions in the central joining processing region located at the longitudinal center of the joining processing region is smaller than the area ratio of the modified portions in the end joining processing regions located at the longitudinal ends of the joining processing region.

[0006] <The Effects of the Invention> According to one aspect of the present invention, it is possible to provide a mask body and ear loops that are joined with sufficient bonding strength and have a good skin feel. Attached Figure Description

[0007] Figure 1 This is a top view of the mask according to one embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the outer surface side.

[0008] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the I-I line cross section.

[0009] Figure 3 This is a top view showing the ear loops when they are unfolded.

[0010] Figure 4 yes Figure 1 A magnified view of a portion of the image.

[0011] Figure 5 This is a diagram showing a variation of the joint processing area of ​​a face mask.

[0012] Figure 6 This is a diagram showing another variation of the joint processing area of ​​a face mask.

[0013] Figure 7 This is a diagram showing another variation of the joint processing area of ​​a face mask.

[0014] Figure 8 This is a diagram showing another variation of the joint processing area of ​​a face mask.

[0015] Figure 9 This is a diagram showing another variation of the joint processing area of ​​a face mask.

[0016] Figure 10 This is a diagram used to illustrate the cross-sectional shape of the modified part of a face mask. Detailed Implementation

[0017] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Furthermore, in the drawings, unless otherwise specified, the same or corresponding structures are sometimes labeled with the same symbols and descriptions are omitted.

[0018] <Basic Structure of Face Masks> One embodiment of the present invention can be a mask capable of covering the wearer's face, and more specifically, capable of covering at least the wearer's nose and mouth. This type of mask can prevent foreign objects from reaching the face or prevent the dissipation of droplets generated by the wearer, and is also known as a sanitary mask or surgical mask. The mask can be disposable or reusable after washing.

[0019] Figure 1 A top view of the mask 1 of this method is shown. Figure 1 This is a diagram showing the mask 1 viewed from the outside, that is, the side exposed when worn (the side opposite to the side facing the face). For example... Figure 1As shown, the mask 1 of this method includes: a mask body 10, which is positioned on the front of the wearer's face when worn, mainly covering the wearer's nose and mouth; and a pair of sheet-like ear loops 20, 20, which are respectively engaged with the end regions (edges) 11, 11 of the mask body 10. The ear loops 20, 20 are a pair of components used to hold the mask body 10 in its wearing position by hanging on the wearer's ears. The mask 1 and the mask body 10 have: a vertical direction (longitudinal direction) D1 corresponding to the vertical direction of the wearer's face when worn; and a horizontal direction (lateral direction) D2 orthogonal to the longitudinal direction D1 and corresponding to the left and right direction of the wearer's face when worn.

[0020] Furthermore, the mask body 10 may have a central portion C located at the center of the longitudinal direction D1, an upper end portion E1 located above the longitudinal direction D1, and a lower end portion E2 located below the longitudinal direction D1. The upper end portion E1 and the lower end portion E2 are sometimes collectively referred to as end portion E. The upper end portion E1, the central portion C, and the lower end portion E2 may be the upper portion, the central portion, and the lower portion of the portion formed by roughly dividing the longitudinal length D1 of the mask body 10 into three equal parts, respectively.

[0021] Figure 1 The mask body 10 shown has a rectangular top view shape with a long side in the horizontal direction D2 in its pre-use state, but the top view shape of the mask body 10 is not limited to the shape shown. Furthermore, as... Figure 1 As shown, the mask body 10 has a pleat structure 15 formed by a plurality of pleats arranged along the longitudinal direction D1. The pleats of the pleat structure 15 are formed by folding the sheet constituting the mask body 10 at a fold line along the transverse direction D2. Then, with the plurality of pleats formed, the two ends of the transverse direction D2 of the mask body 10 are fixed by heat sealing or the like. The heat sealing for forming the pleat structure 15 is not shown in the figure. When using the mask 1, the pleats of the pleat structure 15 near the center of the transverse direction D2 of the mask 1 can be unfolded along the longitudinal direction D1, allowing the mask body 10 to be deformed into a three-dimensional shape suitable for the face. More specifically, it can be deformed such that the center of the longitudinal direction D1 of the mask body is bent in a protruding manner and the center of the transverse direction D2 is bent in a protruding manner.

[0022] The specific structure of the pleat structure 15 is not particularly limited; it can be a known structure formed in the main body 10 of the mask, but... Figure 1 As shown, when a box-shaped fold is formed in the center of the longitudinal direction D1, the center of the longitudinal direction D1 of the mask body 10 is more likely to protrude away from the face when worn, which is therefore preferred.

[0023] The mask body 10 can have a multi-layer structure consisting of multiple layers. For example, it can be a structure comprising at least three layers: an outer layer, an inner layer, and an intermediate layer that enhances the function of trapping foreign objects (dust, pollen, bacteria, viruses, etc.). Each layer constituting the mask body 10 preferably includes a fiber-containing layer such as nonwoven fabric, woven fabric, or knitted fabric, and more preferably, a nonwoven fabric. Examples of nonwoven fabrics include spunbond nonwoven fabric, spunlace nonwoven fabric, meltblown nonwoven fabric, hot-air nonwoven fabric, and dot-bonded nonwoven fabric. Furthermore, meltblown nonwoven fabric capable of containing fine fibers is preferably used in the intermediate layer. Additionally, the fibers constituting the fiber-containing layers are preferably resin fibers, and examples of resins include polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and nylon. The unit area weight of the outer and inner layers can be 15–50 g / m². 2 The preferred unit area weight of the intermediate layer with high foreign matter trapping ability is 10–100 g / m². 2 More preferably 15-50 g / m 2 .

[0024] At the upper part of the mask body 10, a component (nose patch) 30 may be provided to maintain its shape by conforming to the shape of the wearer's nose. This component may, for example, be disposed between a folded layer formed by folding the inner layer of the mask body 10 outward and an intermediate layer.

[0025] Furthermore, markings 18 that distinguish the outer and inner surfaces of the mask body 10 can be formed on the mask body 10 through embossing, printing, sewing, etc. Regarding markings 18, their form is not limited as long as the user can visually identify them. Markings 18, for example... Figure 1 As shown, it can be text, numbers, symbols, graphics, logos, etc.

[0026] The ear loop 20 is a component that functions to maintain the mask body 10 in a given position by hanging it over the wearer's ears during wear. The ear loop 20 can be loop-shaped, allowing the wearer's ear to pass through the opening 29 in the center of the loop of the ear loop 20 for wearing. However, the shape of the ear loop 20 is not limited to a closed loop; it can also have other shapes. Figure 1 As shown, in the state before use, the outer opening of the horizontal D2 is roughly C-shaped. In this case, the two ends of the C-shaped opening side are respectively joined to the upper and lower ends of the edge of the horizontal D2 of the mask body 10.

[0027] like Figure 1As shown, the pair of ear loops 20, 20 are not ribbon-like or thread-like, but rather formed as sheets, that is, as components with a width greater than their thickness. Because the pair of ear loops 20, 20 are sheet-like, when the ear loops 20 are hung on the ears while wearing the mask, they can contact the skin behind the earlobe or the skin around the ear root with a larger area, thus reducing the burden on the skin. Therefore, even when wearing the mask 1 for extended periods, a comfortable wearing experience can be maintained.

[0028] exist Figure 1 In the illustrated configuration, the pair of ear loops 20, 20 are formed as a single piece, namely, ear loop piece 20A. Here, "single piece" refers to a form consisting of a single continuous sheet of material. This single sheet can be a single layer or a laminate composed of multiple layers. By forming the pair of ear loops 20, 20 as a single piece, the left and right ear loops 20, 20 can be positioned simultaneously during manufacturing, making mask production easier. However, in this configuration, the pair of ear loops 20, 20 do not necessarily need to be joined together.

[0029] When a pair of ear loop portions 20, 20 are formed as ear loop portion pieces 20A, the ear loop portion piece 20A can be configured to form a separate pair of ear loop portions 20, 20 by breaking it at a given position. Figure 1 In this configuration, a pair of ear loops 20, 20 are joined at the joint tc. The joining method of the joint tc is not particularly limited, but is preferably a joining that can be separated by stretching with the user's usual force. For example, as... Figure 1 As shown, the perforated line can be formed with alternating connecting and cutting portions. Furthermore, by reducing the sheet thickness or other means, the boundary between the pair of ear loops 20, 20 can be weakened or made easier to stress-applied, thereby forming the joint tc. Additionally, the joint tc can also be configured such that the user can cut it using tools such as scissors.

[0030] The ear loops 20, 20 (or ear loop pieces 20A) can be formed of a stretchable material, at least stretchable in the transverse direction D2. Because the ear loops 20, 20 are stretchable, the user can easily pull the ear loops 20, 20 behind the ears and hook them onto the ears during the wearing action. Furthermore, during wearing, due to the tensile stress generated by the ear loops 20, 20, the mask body 10 is also stretched in the direction of the ear loops 20, 20 (transverse direction D2), making it easier for the mask body 10 to fit snugly against the face.

[0031] The ear loop portion 20 can be a single-layer sheet made of a stretchable material, or it can be a multi-layer sheet formed by laminating multiple layers containing layers of stretchable material. The stretchable material can be a stretchable nonwoven fabric, a stretchable film, or a linear or ribbon-like stretchable component such as rubber filaments. In the case of a stretchable nonwoven fabric, the stretchability of the nonwoven fabric can be manifested by the inclusion of stretchable fibers, for example, the fiber material itself being stretchable or the fibers being crimped fibers. Alternatively, the stretchability can also be manifested through a given physical structure, such as by having an uneven surface. Specific examples of stretchable nonwoven fabrics include stretchable hot-air nonwoven fabrics, stretchable spunbond nonwoven fabrics, stretchable spunlace nonwoven fabrics, stretchable needle-punched nonwoven fabrics, and stretchable chemically bonded nonwoven fabrics.

[0032] Furthermore, since the ear loop portion 20 is easy to manufacture and can achieve high elasticity, a structure comprising a stretchable film is preferred, especially a structure in which surface materials are disposed on both sides of the stretchable film in its stretched state. In this case, structures such as nonwoven fabric / stretchable film, nonwoven fabric / stretchable film / nonwoven fabric (e.g., spunbond nonwoven fabric / stretchable film / spunbond nonwoven fabric, hot-air nonwoven fabric / stretchable film / hot-air nonwoven fabric, etc.) can be cited.

[0033] Materials suitable for stretchable films include polyethylene, polyolefins such as polypropylene, and polyurethane. The stretchability of the film is preferably a maximum elongation (elongation at break) of 3.5 to 4.0, as measured by a tensile testing machine. Furthermore, the stretchable film may allow moisture to pass through. In the case of a structure using a stretchable film, the surface material combined with the film is preferably a nonwoven fabric. Moreover, the weight per unit area of ​​this nonwoven fabric is preferably 5 to 50 g / m². 2 More preferably 8-35 g / m 2 .

[0034] Figure 2 This illustrates a case where the ear loop portion 20 has a structure in which surface materials are disposed on both sides of a stretchable membrane. Figure 1 Sectional view along line II. Figure 2 (a) shows the state where the ear loop portion 20 is not extended. Such raw materials are manufactured, for example, as follows. First, as... Figure 2 As shown in (b), when a given tensile force T is applied to the stretchable film 5 and it is stretched in a given direction to become elongated, a first surface material 2 and a second surface material 3 are respectively disposed on both sides (the first side and the second side) of the stretchable film 5. Then, while maintaining the elongated state of the stretchable film 5, multiple fixing parts 8, 8, ... are intermittently formed on the laminate formed by the second surface material 3, the stretchable film 5, and the first surface material 2. Afterwards, the tensile force T is released, and a... Figure 2 The ear loop 20 in the state shown in (a).

[0035] Figure 2 The state shown in (a) is either a non-elongated state where no external force is applied to the ear loop portion 20, or a natural state with its natural length. In the non-elongated state, since the length of the elastic film 5 returns to its natural length, the portion other than the portion joined by the plurality of fixing portions 8, 8, ... bulges away from the elastic film 5. In the elongated state ( Figure 2 (b) Folds are formed on the originally flat first surface material 2 and second surface material 3. Therefore, the folds are formed in a direction orthogonal to the extension and retraction direction of the ear loop portion 20.

[0036] The fixing portions 8, 8, ... can be formed using welding methods such as ultrasonic sealing, heat sealing, or adhesives, but welding is preferred because it allows for more reliable bonding. In particular, ultrasonic sealing is more preferred because it allows for the easy formation of various welding patterns. With ultrasonic sealing, the first surface material 2, the elastic film 5, and the second surface material 3 can be fixed simultaneously at the same location. Furthermore, by making the first surface material 2, the elastic film 5, and the second surface material 3 all contain thermoplastic resin or all use thermoplastic resin, the contacting layers can be fused together at the fixing portions 8, 8, ... using welding, thus integrating the three layers at that location. Additionally, depending on the forming conditions of the fixing portions, through holes may sometimes be formed in the fixing portions 8, 8, ... or the fixing portions 8, 8, ... may become through holes. In this case, the air permeability of the ear loop portion 20 (ear loop piece 20A) can be improved.

[0037] Alternatively, when rubber filaments are used instead of the aforementioned stretchable film, they can also be clamped in place with surface materials 2 and 3 while the rubber filaments are stretched. However, in this case, when forming the fixing parts 8, 8, ..., it is preferable to use a means that does not degrade the rubber filaments, such as an adhesive, or to fuse the surface materials 2 and 3 together in the location where there are no rubber filaments.

[0038] When the elastic ear loop portion 20 (or ear loop piece 20A) formed as described above is joined to the mask body 10, the stretching direction (elongation direction) of the elastic film 5 is along the transverse direction D2 of the mask 1. Therefore, the ear loop portion 20 is configured to be easy to stretch in the transverse direction D2, but difficult to stretch in the longitudinal direction D1.

[0039] Furthermore, the aforementioned plurality of folds formed on the surface of the ear loop portion 20 (or ear loop piece 20A), based on surface materials 2 and 3, extend approximately along the longitudinal direction D1 of the mask 1. Since numerous folds are formed on the surface of the ear loop portion 20, when the surface of the ear loop portion 20 comes into contact with the skin, the raw material of the ear loop portion 20 does not come into contact with the entire surface of the skin, but rather a space is formed between the ear loop portion 20 and the skin. Therefore, the feeling of tight adhesion to the skin is reduced, and the wearing comfort is improved.

[0040] The weight per unit area of ​​the ear hook portion 20 (ear hook portion piece 20A) can be 20-150 g / m². 2 Furthermore, the overall thickness of the ear loop portion 20 in its non-elongated state can be 100–3,000 μm.

[0041] A pair of sheet-like ear loops 20, 20 (or ear loop sheet 20A) overlap on one surface of the mask body 10 and are respectively joined to the two edges of the transverse D2 of that surface. Figure 1 In the example shown, the ear loops 20, 20 are joined to the outer surface of the mask body 10. Thus, the joining of the ear loops 20 to the mask body 10 in the thickness direction is formed by performing a joining process on the laminate formed by stacking the ear loops 20 and the mask body 10 in the thickness direction. Here, the area where the joining process is performed is referred to as the joining process area 50. Figure 1 As shown, the bonding treatment regions 50, 50 extend along the longitudinal direction D1 at both edges of the transverse direction D2. The bonding treatment region 50 includes a plurality of modified portions spaced apart from each other. These modified portions are portions modified due to material melting. Alternatively, the ear loop portion 20 may overlap with the mask body 10 throughout the entire bonding treatment region 50, or the bonding treatment region 50 may include both overlapping portions of the ear loop portion 20 and the mask body 10 and non-overlapping portions. Therefore, the bonding treatment region 50 may, for example, include portions where only the mask body 10 has undergone bonding treatment.

[0042] <How to use a face mask> When using the mask 1 of this method, the user pulls (unfolds) the ear loops 20 and 20 to the horizontal D2 side before wearing the mask 1. As described above, the ear loops 20 and 20 are separably connected at the joint tc, and the connection is released before unfolding to separate the ear loops 20 and 20 from each other.

[0043] Figure 3 Showing will Figure 1The ear loops 20, 20 of the mask 1 are shown in their unfolded state. After unfolding the ear loops 20, 20 outwards in the horizontal direction D2, the ear loops 20, 20 are flipped over, exposing the sides of the mask body 10 before use. In addition, the main area 12 of the mask body 10 (the area other than the edges 11, 11 in the horizontal direction D2) is also largely exposed.

[0044] like Figure 1 and Figure 3 As shown, in this embodiment, a pair of ear loops 20, 20 are disposed on the outer surface of the mask body 10. Therefore, in the action of separating the pair of ear loops 20, 20 from each other and pulling them outward laterally D2, the possibility of them touching the inner surface of the mask body 10 can be reduced or eliminated, which is preferred from a hygiene point of view.

[0045] The mask 1 of this method can be used, for example, as follows: With the ear loops 20, 20 unfolded, the mask 1 is placed on the wearer's face with the inner surface of the mask body 10 facing the face. Then, holding the mask body 10 from the outer surface with one hand, one ear loop 20 is unfolded and hooked onto one ear with the other hand, and then the other ear loop 20 is unfolded and hooked onto the other ear. Alternatively, if the wearer is someone else, with the mask 1 placed with the outer surface of the mask body 10 facing upwards, the pair of ear loops 20, 20 can be held by hand and pulled outwards laterally (D2), and while holding the pair of ear loops 20, 20, the mask 1 can be moved to the wearer's face. Then, after placing the mask body 10 in the desired position on the other person's face, the pair of ear loops 20, 20 can be hooked onto the other person's ears without changing the holding method. Therefore, the mask 1 of this method is suitable for use, for example, when giving a mask to children, patients, or other people who have difficulty putting on a mask themselves.

[0046] When a pair of ear loops 20, 20 are respectively attached to the edges 11, 11 of the transverse D2 on the outer surface of the mask body 10 ( Figure 1 and Figure 3 When wearing mask 1, with the ear loops 20 pulled to the side and hooked over the ears, the edges of the mask body 10 are pressed towards the face from the outer surface by the ear loops 20. This reduces the gap between the mask body 10 and the face on both sides, improving the mask's functionality, such as blocking foreign objects and preventing the spread of droplets generated by the wearer. Furthermore, since the inner surface (face side) of both sides of the main body is not joined to the ear loops 20, the ear loops 20 do not directly contact the wearer's face during wear, thus reducing discomfort caused by the ear loop edges touching the face.

[0047] In addition, such as Figure 1 As shown, in the mask 1 of this embodiment, in the unfurled state, the ear loops 20 are configured such that their lower sides protrude from the mask body 10. Therefore, when wearing the mask 1, the user can grasp the portion of the ear loops 20 that protrudes from the lower side, causing the ear loops 20 to separate and unfold.

[0048] <Joint treatment area and modified part> Figure 4 Show Figure 1 A magnified view of part II. (See image below.) Figure 4 As shown, the bonding treatment area 50 is the area where heat sealing, ultrasonic sealing, or other treatments are performed along the longitudinal direction D1 at the edge of the transverse direction D2. Among these treatments, heat sealing is preferred because it can be performed reliably in a short time even with relatively low energy consumption. Therefore, by utilizing heat sealing as a bonding treatment, masks can be manufactured at high speed and at low cost.

[0049] The bonding processing area 50 includes a plurality of modified portions 51, 51, ... formed at intervals from each other. Modified portions 51 are parts of the material that are modified by melting. In the case where modified portions 51 are formed by heat sealing, they may be portions pressed by protrusions provided on the surface of the rollers of an embossing machine used for heat sealing. Between the plurality of modified portions 51, 51, ... are unmodified portions 52 that have not been modified by melting. In the bonding processing area 50, the portions that are not modified portions 51, 51, ... are called unmodified portions 52.

[0050] Furthermore, the bonding treatment area 50 has the following range: a width extending from the inner end of the innermost modified portion 51 disposed in the width direction D2 to the outer end of the outermost modified portion 51 disposed in the width direction D2, and a length extending in the longitudinal direction D1 from the upper end of the uppermost modified portion 51 disposed in the longitudinal direction D1 to the lower end of the lowermost modified portion 51 disposed in the longitudinal direction D1. The width of the transverse direction D2 of the bonding treatment area 50 is preferably 3 to 10 mm, more preferably 3.5 to 7 mm. Furthermore, the length of the longitudinal direction D1 of the bonding treatment area 50 is preferably approximately equal to the length of the longitudinal direction D1 of the mask body 10 or the length of the longitudinal direction D1 of the mask 1. The bonding treatment area 50 preferably extends in the longitudinal direction D1 from the upper end to the lower end.

[0051] When the modified portion 51 is formed at the overlap between the ear loop portion 20 and the mask body 10, it is a portion where the raw materials of both the ear loop portion 20 and the mask body 10 are melted and fused together, thereby enabling a strong bond in the thickness direction between the ear loop portion 20 and the mask body 10. The modified portion 51 in which the ear loop portion 20 and the mask body 10 are joined in the thickness direction is sometimes referred to as a welded portion.

[0052] By forming multiple modified portions 51, 51, ... spaced apart from each other, compared to forming a continuous modified portion throughout the bonding treatment area 50, it is possible to ensure the bonding strength while preventing the bonding treatment area 50 from becoming too hard.

[0053] like Figure 1 as well as Figure 4 As shown, in this embodiment, the modified portions 51, 51, ... included in the bonding treatment region 50 are not uniformly arranged within the bonding treatment region 50. For example... Figure 4 As shown, in the joining treatment area 50, the density of modified parts 51, 51, ... is different in the central joining treatment area 50C located in the center of the longitudinal direction D1 and the end joining treatment area 50E located at the end of the longitudinal direction D1.

[0054] Additionally, the end-joining processing area 50E includes an upper end-joining processing area 50E1 located above the mask body and a lower end-joining processing area 50E2 located below. In this specification, the term "end-joining processing area 50E" refers to the upper end-joining processing area 50E1 located above and / or the lower end-joining processing area 50E2 located below. Furthermore, the upper end-joining processing area 50E1, the central end-joining processing area 50C, and the lower end-joining processing area 50E2 are respectively the upper region, the central region, and the lower region obtained by roughly dividing the joining processing area 50 into three equal parts, corresponding to the upper end E1, the central region C, and the lower end E2 of the mask body 10, respectively.

[0055] In this embodiment, the area ratio (Rc) of the modified portions 51 in the central joining processing region 50C is less than the area ratio (Re) of the modified portions 51 in the end joining processing region 50E. That is, Rc < Re. It can be said that the modified portions 51, 51, ... in the central joining processing region 50C are arranged more sparsely than the modified portions 51, 51, ... in the end joining processing region 50E. Here, the area ratio (%) of the modified portions 51 in a given region refers to the total area of ​​the modified portions contained in the region of that given area relative to that given area. For example, the area ratio of the modified portion 51 in the central joint region 50C can be the ratio (%) of the area of ​​the modified portion 51 relative to the area of ​​the central joint region 50C, the area ratio of the modified portion 51 in the upper end joint region 50E1 can be the ratio (%) of the area of ​​the modified portion 51 relative to the area of ​​the upper end joint region 50E1, and the area ratio of the modified portion 51 in the lower end joint region 50E2 can be the ratio (%) of the area of ​​the modified portion 51 relative to the area of ​​the lower end joint region 50E2.

[0056] When the mask 1 is worn, the pleated structure 15 of the mask body 10 is unfolded, and the edge of the transverse D2 of the mask 1, which has the pleats fixed, also deforms. At this time, the central part C of the longitudinal D1 of the edge tends to protrude towards the skin and may bend sharply depending on the situation. Moreover, since the modified part 51 is a part that is modified by melting the material as described above, it is a part that the wearer is likely to feel hard when it comes into contact with the skin. In particular, when the modified part 51 is formed by heat sealing, the modified part 51 is a part that is melted and solidified under high heat of about 120 to 300 degrees Celsius, so the wearer is likely to feel hard. Therefore, when the joint treatment area 50 at the edge of the transverse D2 of the mask 1 comes into contact with the skin, it may cause discomfort or unpleasantness to the wearer.

[0057] In this embodiment, by setting the area ratio of the modified portion in the central joining treatment region 50C to a relatively small value, the softness of the central joining treatment region 50C, i.e., the softness of the central portion C of the longitudinal direction D1 at the edge, is improved. Therefore, the central joining treatment region 50C becomes less prone to sharp bending. Furthermore, even if bent, because the central joining treatment region 50C itself becomes softer, even if the bent protruding portion touches the skin, it is less likely to cause discomfort or unpleasantness.

[0058] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the area of ​​the modified portion 51 in the entire joining treatment region 50 is not reduced; the area ratio of the modified portion 51 in the end joining treatment region 50E is maintained at a relatively large value. Here, the area in the joining treatment region 50 where force is applied during wearing is the area extending from the ear loop portion 20, i.e., the end joining treatment region 50E (upper end joining treatment region 50E1 and lower end joining treatment region 50E2). Therefore, even if the joining strength in the central joining treatment region 50C is slightly lower, it does not significantly affect the joining strength between the ear loop portion 20 and the mask body 10. In addition, in the central joining treatment region 50C, there may originally be a state where the ear loop portion 20 and the mask body 10 are not joined. Therefore, according to this embodiment, by making the area ratio of the modified portion 51 in the end joining treatment region 50E relatively large, the joining strength between the ear loop portion 20 and the mask body 10 can be sufficiently ensured.

[0059] In this way, according to this embodiment, by increasing the softness of the central joint treatment area 50C, which is particularly prone to contact with the skin, the skin feel of the mask 1 can be improved, and by maintaining the joint strength of the end joint treatment area 50E, which is easy to apply force to, a sufficiently sturdy mask 1 can be obtained. Furthermore, in cases where the ear loop portion 20 is formed by arranging and fixing surface materials 2 and 3 on both sides of the elongated elastic member 5 as described above, and the surface has wrinkles, etc. ( Figure 2Even with slightly enhanced bonding conditions, the wearer experiences a pleasant skin feel due to the softness of the central bonding area 50C.

[0060] The ratio (Rc / Re) of the area ratio (Rc) of the modified portion 51 in the central bonding treatment region 50C to the area ratio (Re) of the modified portion 51 in the end bonding treatment region 50E is preferably 0.2 to 0.95, more preferably 0.3 to 0.8. By setting Rc / Re within the above range, the aforementioned effect of obtaining a strong mask 1 with high flexibility and sufficient bonding strength can be improved.

[0061] Furthermore, the area ratio (Rc) of the modified portion 51 in the central bonding treatment region 50C is preferably 2 to 40%, more preferably 3 to 30%. In addition, the area ratio (Re) of the modified portion 51 in the end bonding treatment region 50E is preferably 5 to 60%, more preferably 10 to 50%.

[0062] In addition, such as Figure 4 As shown, in the central joint processing region 50C and the end joint processing region 50E, the spacing and / or pitch of the modified parts 51 can be made different from each other. Figure 4 In the example shown, the longitudinal spacing pc of the modified portions 51 in the central joining treatment region 50C is greater than the longitudinal spacing pe of the modified portions 51 in the end joining treatment region 50E. That is, pc > pe. This further enhances the aforementioned effect of ensuring the bonding strength between the ear loop portion 20 and the mask body 10 while maintaining a soft skin-like feel or texture. Furthermore, the pattern of varying intervals and / or spacings between the modified portions 51 is not complex and can be constructed relatively simply. For example, the pattern of the central joining treatment region 50C can be set such that one or more modified portions 51 adjacent to one modified portion 51 in the longitudinal D1 arrangement of the modified portions 51, 51, ... in the end joining treatment region 50E are removed.

[0063] The ratio (pc / pe) of the longitudinal spacing pc of the modified portions 51 in the central joint treatment region 50C to the longitudinal spacing pe of the modified portions 51 in the end joint treatment region 50E is preferably 1.5 to 5, more preferably 2 to 4.

[0064] In addition, such as Figure 4 As shown, in the central joining treatment region 50C, the longitudinal distance dc between adjacent modified portions 51 in the longitudinal direction D1 is greater than the longitudinal distance de between adjacent modified portions 51 in the end joining treatment region 50E. That is, dc > de. Therefore, the same effect as that achieved by setting pc > pe can be obtained.

[0065] The ratio (dc / de) of the longitudinal spacing dc between adjacent modified portions 51 in the central joint treatment region 50C and the longitudinal spacing de between adjacent modified portions 51 in the end joint treatment region 50E can preferably be 1.5 to 5, more preferably 2 to 4.

[0066] Furthermore, by making the spacing and / or pitch of the modified portions 51 different in the central joint treatment area 50C and the end joint treatment area 50E, the design flexibility can also be improved.

[0067] Furthermore, the bonding treatment area 50 may include a row of modified parts formed by arranging multiple modified parts 51, 51, ... in the longitudinal direction D1. Figure 4 In the example shown, the bonding processing area 50 includes three modified part columns A1, A2, and A3, formed by multiple modified parts 51, 51, ... arranged in the longitudinal direction D1, and these modified part columns A1, A2, and A3 are arranged in the transverse direction D2. The number of such modified part columns is not particularly limited; it can be four or more, or it can be one or two. However, by forming multiple modified part columns spaced apart in the transverse direction D2, the bonding processing area 50 does not become overly rigid and can have an extension in the transverse direction D2, which is therefore preferred.

[0068] In the case of multiple modified sections, the innermost modified section A1 located in the transverse direction D2 does not include modified section 51 in the central joining processing region 50C. In other words, the number of modified sections in the central joining processing region 50C is less than the number of modified sections in the end joining processing region 50E. Figure 4 In the example shown, the number of modified sections in the end joint processing area 50E is three (A1 to A3), while the number of modified sections in the central joint processing area 50C is two (A2 and A3).

[0069] With this structure, the softness of the central joining treatment region 50C is improved because the area of ​​the modified portion 51 in the central joining treatment region 50C can be reduced. Furthermore, although the location of the central joining treatment region 50C is more likely to come into contact with the skin depending on the wearing method, eliminating the modified portion 51 at the innermost part of the width direction D2 in the central joining treatment region 50C can greatly enhance the wearing comfort.

[0070] Furthermore, as described above, the portion that contributes to the bonding strength between the ear loop 20 and the mask body 10 is mainly the portion where the ear loop 20 and the mask body 10 are joined in the end bonding treatment area 50E. Therefore, even if the modified portion in the central bonding treatment area 50C is reduced, it does not have a significant impact on the bonding strength. By using the aforementioned structure where the modified portion on the innermost side of the transverse D2 is not modified in the central bonding treatment area 50C, it is possible to improve the soft skin feel while maintaining the bonding strength.

[0071] exist Figure 4 In the example shown, the top view shape of one modified part 51 is a square, but the shape of the modified part 51 is not limited to this shape. The shape of the modified part 51 can be, for example, a polygon other than a square (such as a quadrilateral, pentagon, or hexagon), a circle, an ellipse, or any shape such as a star or heart. Furthermore, in Figure 4 In the example shown, the four sides of the quadrilateral that forms the shape of the modified part 51 are all formed parallel to the longitudinal direction D1 or the transverse direction D2, but the sides of the quadrilateral can also be formed at an angle relative to the longitudinal direction D1 or the transverse direction D2.

[0072] Regardless of the shape of the modified part 51, the area of ​​one modified part 51 can be 0.5 to 15 mm. 2 By utilizing the area of ​​this range, when the modified part 51 is a welded part formed by fusing the ear loop part 20 and the mask body 10, the bonding strength between the ear loop part 20 and the mask body 10 can be improved, and the situation where the area of ​​the modified part 51 is too large and damages the softness can be prevented.

[0073] In addition, such as Figure 4 As shown, the modified portion 51 is formed away from the transverse D2 end edge of the mask 1 and the transverse D2 end edge of the mask body 10. The end edge of the mask 1 easily comes into contact with the skin during wearing, and also easily comes into contact with the skin and hands during the wearing action. By ensuring that the rigid modified portion 51 does not extend to the end edge, the skin feel can be further improved.

[0074] The lateral length w from the edge of the transverse direction D2 of the mask 1 to the outermost modified portion 51 can preferably be 0.1 to 4 mm, more preferably 0.2 to 3.5 mm. By setting the length w within the above range, it is possible to improve the skin feel and prevent the connection between the ear loop portion 20 at the edge of the width direction D2 and the mask body 10 from weakening, thus compromising the sturdiness of the mask 1.

[0075] <Example of a modified joint treatment area> Furthermore, referring to Figures 5-9A modified example of the joining treatment region 50 will be described. As an embodiment of the present invention, various arrangements are possible as long as the area ratio (Rc) of the modified portion 51 in the central joining treatment region 50C is less than the area ratio (Re) of the modified portion 51 in the end joining treatment region 50E, i.e., Rc < Re. Furthermore, in such various embodiments, there are various variations in the pattern of the modified portion 51, which are highly designable.

[0076] Figure 5 The example shown is to Figure 4 The example shown is where the shape of the modified part 51 is changed from a square to a circle. Therefore, in Figure 5 In the example shown, the area ratio (Rc) of the modified portion 51 in the central joining treatment region 50C is also smaller than the area ratio (Re) of the modified portion 51 in the end joining treatment region 50E. Furthermore, modified portion rows A1 to A3 are formed in the joining treatment region 50, and the modified portion row A1 located at the innermost end of the transverse direction D2 does not contain a modified portion 51 in the central joining treatment region 50C. Therefore, in Figure 5 The mask shown in Figure 1 also has the same characteristics as... Figure 4 Similarly, the example shown demonstrates how a mask can be obtained where the mask body and ear loops are joined with sufficient bonding strength and feel good against the skin.

[0077] Furthermore, the shapes of the multiple modified portions 51 in the joining treatment area 50 can also be different. Therefore, Figure 4 The modified part 51 of the square shown Figure 5 The circular modified portions 51 shown may also be mixed in. For example, the end joining processing region 50E may contain a plurality of square modified portions 51, 51, ..., and the central joining processing region 50C may contain a plurality of circular modified portions 51, 51, ... . Furthermore, modified portions 51 of different shapes may be included in the end joining processing region 50E or in the central joining processing region 50C.

[0078] exist Figures 6-8 In the variant shown, the modified portions 51 are all circular in shape, but include two types of modified portions of different sizes. In this way, multiple modified portions 51, 51, ... can include two or more types of modified portions of different sizes. More specifically, the modified portion 51 includes a first modified portion 51a with a smaller diameter and a second modified portion 51b with a larger diameter. By mixing two or more modified portions 51 with different areas, it is easier to design a pattern where the area ratio (Rc) of the modified portions 51 in the central joining processing region 50C is smaller than the area ratio (Re) of the modified portions 51 in the end joining processing region 50E, i.e., a pattern where Rc < Re.

[0079] exist Figure 6In the example shown, the end-joining treatment region 50E includes a first modified portion 51a and a second modified portion 51b, while the central-joining treatment region 50C includes only the first modified portion 51a. By including the relatively large second modified portion 51b in the end-joining treatment region 50E, the bonding strength between the ear loop portion 20 and the mask body 10 in the end-joining treatment region 50E can be further improved. On the other hand, by making the modified portion 51a in the central-joining treatment region 50C only the relatively small first modified portion 51a, the flexibility of the central-joining treatment region 50C can be ensured.

[0080] Furthermore, considering the area of ​​one modified portion 51, the area of ​​one modified portion 51 in the central joining processing region 50C can be equal to, or smaller than, the area of ​​one modified portion in the end joining processing region 50E. For example, in Figure 6 In the example shown, the area of ​​one modified portion 51 in the central joining treatment region 50C is smaller than the area of ​​one modified portion in the end joining treatment region 50E. This further improves the effect of achieving a structure where the ear loop 20 and the mask body 10 are joined with sufficient bonding strength while maintaining a soft skin-like feel. Furthermore, the area of ​​one modified portion 51 refers to the average area of ​​the plurality of modified portions 51 contained within a given region.

[0081] Compared to the first modified portion 51a in the end joining processing region 50E, the first modified portions 51a in the central joining processing region 50C are arranged more sparsely. More specifically, the longitudinal spacing D1 of the first modified portions 51a in the central joining processing region 50C is greater than the longitudinal spacing D1 of the first modified portions 51a in the end joining processing region 50E. Furthermore, the longitudinal interval D1 of the first modified portions 51a in the central joining processing region 50C is greater than the longitudinal interval D1 of the first modified portions 51a in the end joining processing region 50E. As a result, the central joining processing region 50C can also remain flexible.

[0082] In addition, Figure 6 In the example shown, two modified sections A1 and A2 are formed in the width direction D2. The second modified section 51b, which has a larger area, is contained in the modified section A1 inside the width direction D2.

[0083] exist Figure 7 In the example shown, it is also related to Figure 6 Similarly, in the example shown, the end-joining processing region 50E includes a first modified portion 51a and a second modified portion 51b, while the central-joining processing region 50C only includes the smaller first modified portion 51a. Furthermore, in... Figure 7In the example shown, it is also related to Figure 6 Similarly, in the example shown, the area of ​​one modified portion 51 in the central joining processing region 50C (average value when the areas are different) is smaller than the area of ​​one modified portion in the end joining processing region 50E (average value when the areas are different). Furthermore, the first modified portion 51a in the central joining processing region 50C is more sparsely distributed compared to the first modified portion 51a in the end joining processing region 50E. Therefore, in Figure 7 In the example shown, it is also possible to obtain the same as Figure 6 The example shown has the same effect.

[0084] However, in Figure 7 In the example shown, with Figure 6 The example shown is different; the second modified part 51b, which has a larger area, is included in the modified part column A2 outside the width direction D2.

[0085] exist Figure 8 In the example shown, the end-joining processing region 50E contains only the relatively large second modified portion 51b, while the central-joining processing region 50C contains roughly only the first modified portion 51a. Furthermore, the area of ​​a single modified portion 51 in the central-joining processing region 50C (average value when all areas differ) is smaller than the area of ​​a single modified portion in the end-joining processing region 50E (average value when all areas differ). Therefore, in Figure 8 In the example shown, it is also possible to further improve the following effect: to obtain a structure in which the ear loops 20 are joined to the mask body 10 with sufficient bonding strength while having a soft skin feel.

[0086] In addition, Figure 8 In the example shown, the modified section A1 on the inner side of the width direction D2 only includes the second modified section 51b with a relatively large area, while the modified section A2 on the outer side of the width direction D2 includes both the first modified section 51a and the second modified section 51b.

[0087] exist Figure 9 In the example shown, the top view shape of the modified portion 51 is elliptical. Furthermore, the modified portion 51 may include a modified portion 51c whose major axis is inclined inward from the longitudinal direction D1 towards the width direction D2, and a modified portion 51d whose major axis is inclined outward from the longitudinal direction D1 towards the width direction D2. Figure 9 In the example shown, modified portions 51c and 51d with different inclination angles are arranged alternately in the longitudinal direction D1. When the modified portion 51 is an elongated shape such as an ellipse, the bending of the material, observed microscopically, is guided to form along the long side of the shape, or, in the case of an ellipse, along its major axis. Here, in Figure 9In the configuration of the modified portion 51 shown, since the microscopic bending direction alternates along the longitudinal direction D1, the bonding treatment area 50 is less likely to bend in a straight line, for example, it is difficult to form a large crease along the transverse direction D2. Therefore, even if the bonding treatment area 50 deforms, it is easy to form a deformation that follows a gentle curve along the skin (it is less likely for sharp creases to touch the skin). As a result, it is possible to prevent the bonding treatment area 50, especially the central bonding treatment area 50C, from bending and touching the skin, thereby improving the wearing comfort.

[0088] The modified portions in the central joining processing region 50C are more sparsely distributed than the modified portions 51 in the end joining processing region 50E. More specifically, the longitudinal spacing D1 of the modified portions 51 in the central joining processing region 50C is greater than the longitudinal spacing D1 of the modified portions 51 in the end joining processing region 50E. Furthermore, the longitudinal interval D1 of the modified portions 51 in the central joining processing region 50C is greater than the longitudinal interval D1 of the modified portions 51 in the end joining processing region 50E.

[0089] Furthermore, the bonding treatment area 50 includes modified section A1 on the inner side of the width direction D2 and modified section A2 on the outer side of the width direction D2. The innermost modified section A1 in the width direction D2 is configured such that it does not include modified section 51 in the central bonding treatment area 50C.

[0090] <Other Structures> Next, the structure of the modified portion 51 in one embodiment of the present invention will be described. As described above, since the modified portion 51 is a portion modified by melting, it has a higher density than the original material, resulting in a shape that is recessed from at least one side, the outer side and the inner side. For example, it is a high-density portion formed by the disappearance of voids in a nonwoven fabric material containing voids. The state of such recess in the modified portion 51 is not particularly limited, but it is preferable that the recess depth of the modified portion 51 from the inner side is less than the recess depth from the outer side, or that the modified portion 51 is not recessed from the inner side. By appropriately selecting the bonding process method, i.e., the method for forming the modified portion 51, the desired recess shape can be obtained.

[0091] Reference Figure 10 To explain in detail, examples of the formation of a recessed shape in which the recessed depth from the inside of the modified part 51 is less than the recessed depth from the outside, or where the modified part 51 is not recessed from the inside. Figure 10 An example is shown where the bonding treatment area 50 is formed by heat sealing, i.e., the modified part 51 is formed by heat sealing. In the process of forming the bonding treatment area 50, the laminate formed by stacking the ear loop part 20 and the mask body 10 is heated and pressurized along the thickness direction between rollers 81 and 82. For example... Figure 10As shown in (a), one roller 81 in the roller pair has a protrusion on its surface that corresponds to the shape of the modified part 51, while the surface of the other roller 82 is flat. Through such roller pair 81, 82, the laminate of the ear loop part 20 and the mask body 10 melts at the location of the protrusion and is compressed along the thickness direction to form the modified part 51.

[0092] Figure 10 (b) shows the state of the laminate after the bonding process. Figure 10 (b) is equivalent to Figure 4 The figure is a cross-sectional view along line III-III. Viewed in cross-section, the modified portion 51 has recesses on both the outer and inner sides. Here, the depth of the recess formed on the side where the roller 81 with its irregularities is pressed is greater than the depth of the recess on the side where the flat roller 82 contacts. In the manner in which the ear loop portion 20 is joined to the outer surface of the mask body 10, the inner side of the mask becomes the side facing the wearer's skin. By making the inner side, where the irregularities formed by the recesses are smaller, the side that contacts the skin, the skin feel during wear can be improved. Furthermore, depending on the conditions of the joining process, the modified portion 51 can also be formed in a shape where it does not have an inner recess.

[0093] Therefore, the preferred embodiments of the present invention are described below.

[0094] The first embodiment is a mask comprising: a mask body; and sheet-like ear loops joined to the mask body at each transverse edge in a longitudinally extending joining treatment region, the joining treatment region having a plurality of mutually spaced-apart modified portions modified by melting, wherein the area ratio of the modified portions in the central joining treatment region located at the longitudinal center of the joining treatment region is smaller than the area ratio of the modified portions in the end joining treatment regions located at the longitudinal ends of the joining treatment region.

[0095] In this method, the bonding treatment area formed for joining the ear loop to the mask body includes multiple modified portions spaced apart from each other. These modified portions are areas modified by melting the material. When modified portions are formed in the area where the ear loop overlaps with the mask body, the materials of at least the surfaces of the ear loop and the mask body melt and fuse together, thus forming a relatively strong bond. However, depending on the material composition of the ear loop and / or the mask body, for example, if the ear loop is made of a stretchable material with a wrinkled surface, sometimes sufficient bonding strength with the mask body cannot be obtained. In such cases, increasing the area of ​​the modified portions in the bonding treatment area can be considered to improve the bonding strength. However, since the modified portions are areas modified by temporarily melting the material, the voids present in the original raw material disappear, and the material becomes harder compared to untreated portions. Therefore, if the area of ​​the modified portions is increased, the softness of the bonding treatment area decreases, potentially impairing a good skin feel.

[0096] In this regard, according to the first method, the area ratio (Rc) of the modified portion in the central joint treatment area located in the longitudinal center of the joint treatment area is smaller than the area ratio (Re) of the modified portion in the end joint treatment area located in the longitudinal end of the joint treatment area. That is, Rc < Re. When a wearer wears a mask, the portion in the longitudinal center at the lateral end tends to bend towards the skin and touch it. Therefore, the softness of the central joint treatment area can have a significant impact on the wearing comfort. That is, by reducing the stiffness of the central joint treatment area, the overall wearing comfort of the mask can be effectively improved. In this method, since the area ratio of the modified portion in the central joint treatment area located in the longitudinal center is relatively small, the central joint treatment area becomes less prone to bending. Furthermore, even if it bends, since the central joint treatment area itself becomes softer, it will not bend sharply, and even if the bent part touches the skin, a good wearing comfort can be maintained.

[0097] Furthermore, when the ear loop is stretched laterally during wear, the portion extending from the ear loop, i.e., the longitudinal end, is subjected to particularly large forces. In this method, because the area ratio of the modified portion in the end-joining treatment area is relatively large, the joint strength of the longitudinal end can be sufficiently ensured.

[0098] Thus, according to the first method described above, it is possible to provide a structure that provides a soft skin-like feel while also ensuring sufficient bonding strength between the mask body and the ear loops.

[0099] In the second embodiment, the area of ​​one of the modified portions in the central joining processing region is less than or equal to the area of ​​one of the modified portions in the end joining processing region.

[0100] According to the area specification of the modified portion involved in the second method described above, it is possible to improve the aforementioned effect of obtaining a structure that achieves a soft skin-like feel while also ensuring sufficient bonding strength between the mask body and the ear loops. Furthermore, when the area of ​​the modified portion in the central bonding treatment area is smaller than the area of ​​the modified portion in the end bonding treatment area, it is also possible to improve the mask design by allowing the size of the modified portion to vary depending on the location within the bonding treatment area.

[0101] In the third embodiment, the longitudinal spacing between the modified portions in the central joining processing region is greater than the longitudinal spacing between the modified portions in the end joining processing region.

[0102] According to the spacing specifications of the modified parts involved in the third method described above, it is possible to improve the aforementioned effect of obtaining a structure that achieves a soft skin-like feel while also ensuring sufficient bonding strength between the mask body and the ear loops. Furthermore, by varying the longitudinal spacing of the modified parts depending on the location within the bonding area, the design flexibility of the mask can also be improved.

[0103] In the fourth embodiment, the bonding treatment area comprises a plurality of modified part columns arranged longitudinally by the modified parts in the transverse direction, wherein the innermost modified part column in the transverse direction does not have a modified part in the central bonding treatment area.

[0104] According to the fourth method described above, no modified portion is formed on the innermost side in the width direction of the central joining treatment area. This reduces the area of ​​the modified portion in the central joining treatment area, which is prone to contact with the skin depending on the wearing method, thus further improving the softness of the central joining treatment area and enhancing the skin feel of the mask. Furthermore, sometimes the ear loops do not overlap with the mask body on the lateral inner side of the central joining treatment area. Therefore, even if the modified portion in the central joining treatment area is reduced, it does not significantly affect the bonding strength between the ear loops and the mask body. Moreover, even if the ear loops overlap with the mask body on the lateral inner side of the central joining treatment area, the bonding in the central joining treatment area has a relatively small impact on the bonding strength between the ear loops and the mask body; the bonding strength can be maintained through the bonding in the end joining treatment areas. Therefore, it is possible to improve the skin feel while also ensuring sufficient bonding strength between the ear loops and the mask body.

[0105] In the fifth embodiment, the lateral length from the lateral edge of the mask to the outermost modified portion in the lateral direction is 0.1 mm or more and 4 mm or less.

[0106] According to the fifth method described above, there is no modified portion from the lateral edge of the mask to a position away from a given distance, thus making the lateral edge of the mask soft. The lateral edge of the mask is the part that is particularly likely to come into contact with the skin when wearing the mask, during the wearing action, or when adjusting the position of the mask after wearing it. Therefore, by making the lateral edge of the mask soft, the wearer can easily feel that the joint area of ​​the mask has become softer. Furthermore, when holding the mask in hand to wear it, the edge of the mask easily comes into contact with the hand, which also improves the tactile feedback perceived by the hand.

[0107] In the sixth embodiment, the modified portion is a portion that is recessed at least from the outside of the bonding treatment area, wherein the recess depth of the modified portion from the inside is less than the recess depth from the outside, or the modified portion is not recessed from the inner surface.

[0108] The modified portion is formed during the melting of the material and has a shape that is recessed at least from the outer side (skin side). Here, as in the sixth embodiment described above, when the modified portion is formed such that the recess on the inner side (non-skin side) is smaller than the recess on the outer side, the unevenness on the inner side, which is more easily touched by the skin, is smaller, thus improving the skin feel. Furthermore, in the modified portion where the outer recess of the ear loop is larger, the material of the ear loop is well embedded in the mask body. Therefore, for example, even if the material of the ear loop is, for example, a material formed from multiple layers or a thick material, sufficient bonding strength between the ear loop and the mask body can be ensured. Additionally, as an example of a method for obtaining the structure of the sixth embodiment described above, the following process can be listed: heat sealing is used in the formation of the bonding treatment area, and bonding is performed by a heated embossing roller with protrusions abutting against the outer side.

[0109] The present invention has been described above based on embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. Various changes, modifications, substitutions, additions, deletions, and combinations can be made to the above embodiments within the scope of the claims, and these also fall within the technical scope of the present invention. Furthermore, the above-described constituent elements can be combined arbitrarily.

[0110] This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-057139, filed on March 29, 2024, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0111] Symbol Explanation 1: Face mask 2, 3: Surface materials 5: Stretchable film 8: Fixing part 10: Mask body 15: Fold structure 18: Mark 20: Ear hook part 20A: Ear loop piece 29: Opening 50: Joining processing area 50C: Central joint processing area 50E: End-joint processing area 50E1: Upper end joint processing area 50E2: Lower end joint processing area 51, 51c, 51d: Modification Department 51a: Section 1 Modification 52b: Second Modification Section A1, A2, A3: Modification Section D1: Vertical direction (up and down) D2: Horizontal (left and right direction) tc: Separable joint.

Claims

1. A type of face mask, which has the following features: The main body of the mask; and The sheet-like ear loops are joined at the transverse edges of the mask body in a longitudinally extending joining area. The bonding treatment region has multiple modified portions that are spaced apart from each other and modified by melting. The area ratio of the modified portion in the central part of the joining process region located in the longitudinal direction is less than the area ratio of the modified portion in the end joining process region located in the longitudinal direction.

2. The mask according to claim 1, wherein, The area of ​​one of the modified portions in the central joining processing region is less than or equal to the area of ​​one of the modified portions in the end joining processing region.

3. The mask according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The longitudinal spacing between the modified portions in the central joint processing area is smaller than the longitudinal spacing between the modified portions in the end joint processing area.

4. The mask according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The bonding treatment area includes multiple modified sections in the transverse direction, and each modified section is formed by arranging the multiple modified sections in the longitudinal direction. The innermost modified portion of the transverse section does not have a modified portion in the central joint processing area.

5. The mask according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The lateral length from the lateral edge of the mask to the outermost modified part in the lateral direction is 0.1 mm or more and 4 mm or less.

6. The mask according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, The modified portion is at least a portion recessed from the outside of the bonding treatment area. The depth of the recess from the inside of the modified portion is less than the depth of the recess from the outside, or the modified portion is not recessed from the inside.

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